Tensions rise ahead of Uganda vote

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - 01:05

The major candidates in Uganda's presidential and parliamentary elections are rallying to mark the end of the campaign, although the leading challenger to President Yoweri Museveni is complaining that the ballot will be neither free nor fair. Mana Rabiee reports.

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Ugandans are getting ready for an election.
Voters will decide on Thursday who their next parliamentary members will be -- but more crucially -- if anyone will succeed President Yoweri Musaveni (yoh-WEH-ree moo-SEH-veh-nee).
The Western ally has been in power for 30 years, after waging a guerrilla war in the 1980's.
His leading challenger is long-time opposition leader Kizza Besigye (KEE-zah BEH-seh-jeh).
He's been blasting Musaveni (moo-SEH-veh-nee) for creating a government of patronage and for ignoring Uganda's poor.
Now, he's warning the election won't be free and fair.
On Monday he was briefly detained by security forces at a campaign rally. Officials were accusing his supporters of looting and other illegal activity.
One person was killed in the violence.
The U.S. is calling for a transparent and credible vote.
But observers fear there may be worse to come, as election day approaches.